Judge Excludes Group From Hearing On Abortion Ban

A federal judge says a group that wants to help defend Arkansas' law banning most abortions 12 weeks into a pregnancy can't participate in a hearing over an effort to block the restriction.

U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright on Friday ruled that Concepts of Truth can't participate in the May 17 hearing over the abortion ban. The Wynne-based anti-abortion counseling group has asked to intervene in the lawsuit.

Wright agreed with opponents of the law that the group shouldn't participate since it asked to intervene nearly two weeks after the hearing was ordered.

The American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Reproductive Rights sued the state last month on behalf of Dr. Louis Jerry Edwards and Dr. Tom Tvedten, who provide abortions at a Little Rock clinic.